Good luck and Goodbye Year 6

Today is our Class of 2008's last day in Gelli Primary. During their time with us they have always been excellent role models, they have excelled academically and been great ambassadors on the sports field – not only rugby, football (boys and girls), cricket, cheerleading and of course our hockey squad who became the first team from Gelli to qualify for a national final. They have also welcomed a number of pupils into their class as a result of those children moving into our school. They now leave us with our thanks and best wishes for the future and hope that they fulfil their potential in Treorchy Comprehensive. We look forward to reading about their achievements. I would like to thank on their behalf Mrs. O’Gorman, their current class teacher, and all the other members of staff the have taught them during their time at Gelli. They will always be a special group of people to me as they will be the only group of children that I will have taught here and they will be always my first year 6 cohort as a head teacher.
To borrow a “Big Brotherism” as we evict them from Gelli Primary here are their “BEST BITS.”Click on the video below to see if you agree.

Leaver's Assembly and Award Winners

During the Leaver's Ball we awarded the annual Gelli Primary Year 6 awards.
The recipients this year were -


Sports Personality of the Year - Tom Dunning, Liftime Award - Stacey Symons, Achievement Award - Megan Atkin and the "Star of the Year" - Josh Wilson.
Congratulations Llongyfarchiadau.

Congratulations Mrs. Date

Mrs. Date, our Intervention Learning Support Assistant, has been participating in a literacy intervention project this year in partnership with the LEA Support Services and Cumbria LEA. The project has given us a strategy for supporting children to improve their literacy skills and has been very successful.
On Monday 14th July Mrs. Date was presented with a certificate for completing the accreditation for the course at a presentation in the Conservatory at the Rhondda Heritage Park Hotel. She is pictured here receiving her certificate from Richard Edwards, the Education Psychology Service and Gaynor Cynan Jones Senior Co-ordinator Learning Support Service.

More Ball News

We also had plenty of other guests - click here to see who was also on the guest list

Year Six Leaver's Ball

Saying goodbye to Year 6 is always a difficult thing to do.... BUT in Gelli we do it in style. This year like the previous leavers, our top class hit the catwalk and strutted their stuff..... put on their party gear and boogied down all night in the Football Club.
See which local celebs were on the A list by clicking on the video below.

We also had plenty of other guests - click here to see who guest list

Our School Walk

We joined Mr. Mrs Rickards on their walk around the partnership schools with Mbale. Despite the weather we walked to Ton Pentre Junior School through Pentre and back to school. On the way we asked passers by to contribute to the Mbale fund. If you would like to donate any money please contct the school on 01443 435311 or Phil and Kath Rickards on 01443 480830 or e-mail at phil.rickards@virgin.net

Since September 2006 Gelli Primary School has been twinned with Mbale School in Uganda. On Monday 14th July pupils from Gelli Primary School will join members of the Phil and Kath Rickards on the School Walk.
In Mbale, communication and transport are difficult. To raise awareness of the plight of the school children in the area, Phil and Kath Rickards are walking between the 40 schools that have partner schools in Mbale.
Money that will be raised through sposnorship and donations will be used to improve educational needs in Mbale.

A leading Ugandan has said "The only way out of poverty is education."

If you are interested in supporting this event please contact Phil and Kath Rickards on 01443 480830 or e-mail at phil.rickards@virgin.net

Please support the partnership between Gelli and Africa to assist those who are less fortunate than us improve their life. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr.

This week's activities

Monday 14th July

Mbale Walk

Year 5 and 6 will participated in a sponsored walk with the PONT project to Treorchy Primary via Ton Infants, Ton Pentre Junior School and Pentre beginning from school at 12.30p.m. A “Copper Coin” collection will be taken and proceeds donated to Mbale School, Uganda.

Reporting to Parents Evening.

Parents wishing to meet with staff re requested to make an appointment after school. If the teachers have indicated that there are no issues to discuss please complete the parents comment form attached to your child's report. This will be included in your child's personal profile.

Tuesday 15th July

Year 6 Leaver's concert.

The children will present their final performance at Gelli Primary this morning. The assembly will be held in the school hall and parents of year 6 pupils are invited to join us for what is traditionally a very emotional morning. Can we ask parents to be seated at 9.15 at the latest as it will be a tight squeeze to fit everybody into the hall. After the assembly, please will you join us and the children in a cup of tea and biscuits to celebrate.

Early Years and Infants Concert 1.30 p.m.

Parents in Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and 2 are welcome to join us for our end of year concert. This will also be an opportunity to mark the retirement of two of our long standing members of staff Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Dunn. No tickets are required parents will be admitted from 1.15 p.m. from the side entrance to the hall. Pupils will direct you to the entrance

Wednesday 16th, Thursday 17th July

Industrial action being taken by UNISON.
I have informed the LEA of my intention to close the school for children on health and safety grounds on Wednesday and Thursday. I cannot guarantee safety if any unforeseen circumstances occur. In addition Staff PPA, early years supervision, clerical support and lunchtime supervision will be disrupted and safety to and from school will be compromised. I have not taken this decision lightly and it is one that has been taken in consultation with my Chair of Governors. I apologise for any inconvenience

Friday 18th July
Children are not required to wear school uniform today. We will have our final assembly of the year. During the morning year 6 children will swap presents, sign shirts and bid farewell to Gelli Primary. We wish them well in the future and hope that they continue to be successful in Treorchy Comprehensive School next year.
School will close at 1.15 p.m. for the summer vacation.

Next year staff will be involved in training on Monday September 1st.

SCHOOL WILL RE-OPEN FOR CHILDREN ON TUESDAY 2nd SEPTEMBER.

PTA Summer Fete Raffle Prize Winners

The PTA would like to announce the winning raffle prize number.
£50 Vouchers Pink 341-345 Megan Hughes (Nursery)
£20 Vouchers Green 366-370 Kay
Meal @ Railway Pink 916-920 Dylan (Nursery)
Meal @ Red Cow Pink 16-20 Anne Marie
Hair Voucher Pink 91-95 Julia Carter
Vodka Green 491-495 Miss Hatch
Smirnoff Ice Pink 356-360 Todd (Year 3)
Cava Green 506-510 Marc Hughes
J P Chenet Yellow 476-480 Mandy
Babycham Yellow 461-465 Aleisha Fisher
Kir Royale White 31-35 Brian
Wine White 71-75 Paul Gough
Faber Pink 466-470 Gareth Hawkins
Lambrini Yellow 214-245 Tracey Lewis
Mug Tree Green 431-435 Aunty Pat
Mug Tree Green 56-60 Josh Griffiths
Bubbles Pink 326-330 Lynda (Lollipop Lady)
Radio Yellow 111-115 Janet
Radio Pink 886-890 Dylan (Nursery)
Candle set Yellow 471-475 Mandy
Photo frame & clock Green 396-400 Megan Thomas (Year 2)
Photo frame Pink 411-415 Andrew Fredericks
Bath Salts Green 386-390 Carol
Wash box Pink 111-115 Joel (year 3)
Mints Green 441-445 Katrina
Water Pistol Green 116-120 Keelan Davies (Year 2)
Meal @ Curlys Pink 81-85 Gavin Saunders
Car Blanket Green 126-130 Lilly May
Jewellry Tree Green 141-145 Ann Williams (Carys Year 1)
Wine Yellow 436-440 Leah & Luke

Other Prize Winners
Name the Rocking Horse (Abby) Bethany Meredith
Name the Bear (Banjo) Daniel (Year 6)
Number of Sweets (476) Keelan Davies
Weight of Cake (3lb 6oz) Bradley Kelly

Please will all raffle winners collect their prizes from the school.

Thank you for your generosity.

Weather fails to dampen Gelli PTA Fete

Despite Saturday's heavy showers (which forced the fete to be held in the school hall and classrooms), nothing could dampen the spirits of the inhabitants of Gelli and the parents and friends of the school. Everybody flocked to school to enjoy the numerous stalls and games, face painting and refreshments. Through the generosity of the participants early estimates seem to suggest that last year's total of £980 could be equalled.
There was also an evening gig at the Railway Inn where proceeds were donated to the PTA funds. The organising committee (led this year by Mrs. Becky Sims) would like to thank all parents and friends who donated items to the fete and everybody who attended and gave so generously to the cause. The PTA have over numerous years contributed resources to the school such as a Plasma screen for nursery, reading materials to augment the school library and always provide gifts for the children at Easter and Christmas. Thank you very much. Diolch yn fawr iawn.

Gelli Primary Hockey Squad Achieve National Recognition

On Friday 4th July, our Hockey team travelled to the Maldwyn Sports Centre Complex in Newtown Powys to compete in the finals of the Welsh Primary Schools Tournament.
Having qualified through the two regional tournaments, we were up against the other BEST nine teams from regions around Wales who had also qualified through winning their regional events. The ten teams were divided into two pools of five and would play in a round robin format. Each team would play four games with the top two teams in each pool qualifying for semi and final play offs. We were drawn against schools from Sychdyn and Pen y Bryn from Mold, Nantymoel representing Bridgend and Llancarfan representing the Vale of Glamorgan.
This was a huge step in class for our players. Many of the opposition players represent hockey clubs in their villages and some play representative level for their county.
Our first match was against Sychdyn. We lost 1 – 0. The opposition were more physical than us and pressed our defence into making several high class saves. Ceri in goal led the defence with some class saves and long clearances. This was a close match with nothing between the teams. Sychdyn’s superior experience was probably the deciding factor in their victory. Our team did themselves proud.
In our next match we were drawn against pre tournament favourites, Pen y Bryn. In their first match they had won 3 – 0 and looked ominously efficient. Again, Ceri in goal led the defence who kept the sharp Pen y Bryn offence at bay. After two minutes they scored. Our defence held them out right until the final minute when Ceri was beaten by a stinging shot which would have beaten any goal minder in the tournament. Despite playing well, again we lost narrowly to a team that would top the group.
After a short break (where Mrs. Date did a little coaching of her own, as you can see from our short video)

we played our penultimate match against Nantymoel. For a vast majority of the match we pressed their goal and were unfortunate to hit the post. This time Ceri and the defence hardly needed to make a save. The game ended goalless with both teams earning a point each. However, we felt that we were the better team and deserved to have won the game.
Our last game was against Llancarfan. Super coach Miss Hatch decided that the children needed a bit of an incentive and told the children that if we scored Mr. Jones would buy them a MacDonald’s as a treat. Enough said. We spent most of the game on the attack and after a through ball from midfield which split the defence Ashley raced through and slipped the ball past their keeper. GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL for GELLI
Mr. Jones was so pleased that he stopped filming the game and followed the play. You can see Ashley and the other players celebrating, but not the goal. (Let’s remember to bring a better cameraman with us the next time.)
We had finally won. The players celebrated as if they had won the tournament.
After all the games had been played we looked at the board and we had come in eighth place on goal difference, so we are the EIGHTH BEST HOCKEY TEAM IN WALES, some achievement. The squad have come a long way in a short time. We have a young squad with Ethan in Year 3, Jenna in Year 4, Bradley in Year 5 as a basis for a strong squad in the future. Coach Hatch can also be very proud of their accomplishments and with super supporters Mrs. Date and Mrs. Dunning (who helped transport the pupils to the earlier rounds) the future is bright.
The squad also looked very smart in their new kit (sponsored by NRG). Thank you very much Mr. Gimson for your kind donation.
The whole day was a fantastic experience for all who participated. A special thanks to Mrs. Hatch (or Mummy Hatch as she will now be known from henceforth) for driving the mini bus so skilfully.
This was a tremendous achievement by our pupils and coaching staff. They represented the school and our area with dignity. It was very pleasing to hear that Miss Hatch received several glowing comment not only about their play but also about their sportsmanship. WELL DONE GELLI.

Further articles (including Mr. Jones' videos) will appear on the PESS page on the school website soon.

Science investigation in Year 2

This afternoon Year 2 have been doing an investigation about Electricity. Here are Charley and Catherine to show you what they did. "We made a circuit out of salt dough" said Charley. "After we did this I wrote a description of everything we know about electricity." said Catherine.
The other children are walking around the school to see what appliances need electricity to work. Others are seeing what appliances work with batteries and which need mains electricity. Well done girls.

A Reminder from the PTA

All items donated to the fete can be brought to school from WEDNESDAY July 2nd
onwards, but the later the better as we have limited storage in school.
We will be very pleased to receive donations for the following stalls –
TOYS & GAMES , TINS & BOTTLES, BOOKS RAFFLE PRIZES , VIDEOS, DVD’s & CD’s (Only 1st generation disks please. We cannot sell illegal copies) and CAKES
The Summer School fete will be held in the school grounds on Saturday 5th July to
start at 11.00 a.m.
The school will be open at 9.00 a.m. for all parents and friends who are responsible
for running stalls to begin to set up either in the yard area or indoors if wet.

A Big Thank You from Nursery

A big thank you from the children of nursery to Futureglaze Windows for helping them study living things by constructing a wormery out of double glazing products. They visited the factory in Nantgwyddon to have a tour of the factory, meet the firm's representatives and director. You can see what they did by clicking on the link below

Thank you to the staff at Futureglaze fror their kind donation.

Gelli School join Teddy Bear's for Picnic in the Park

New Kit Sponsorship Deal Announced

Gelli Primary School is proud to announce the first of three new kit sponsorhip deals with local firms. NRG Heating agreed to sponsor our football team kit for the coming season. On behalf of the children we wish to thank Mr. Gimson from NRG Heating and Plumbing for his generosity. At present the kit is being embroidered with our school and sponsor logo. This is a duel purpose kit and our hockey squad will be able to wear it on Friday when they travel to Newtown to represent the County in the Welsh Hockey Championships. Check back here for details of our other kit sponsors which we will be able to announce soon.